Is DeMarvion Overshown a solution, or just another injury prone Cowboys’ linebacker?

As media members flocked to Ezekiel Elliott, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and other Dallas Cowboys, few reporters noticed the rookie who isn’t a rookie quietly gathering his belongings at his own locker.

Then one media person asked to talk to linebacker DeMarvion Germanic Lee Overshown (that’s his name) after the Cowboys’ Week 1 win in Cleveland. Then another. Then another. Another. After 60 seconds, it was Overshown who was in the middle of one of those dreaded media scrums that veteran players love as much as they do their urologist.

This was not Overshown’s “Welcome to the NFL” moment, but considering what was needed to get here, he will take all of it.

Easily lost amid the dozen-plus positive developments from the Cowboys’ blowout win at Cleveland, but not to be overlooked is that this young man was able to not only play but play well. If he is as good as he displayed Sunday, he solves a major issue for the Cowboys that they could never fix last season, which ultimately played a significant role in their demise in the playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

“’I’ve been ready for some time now and they let me cut it loose (against Cleveland), and definitely thankful. Grateful. Blessed,” Overshown said. “All of that. I’m ready for next week.”

Standing in front of his locker the young man and Texas-ex radiated a 89,301-watt smile. As he should.

He was the 90th overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, but missed the entire season after he tore the ACL in his left knee on the second drive of his second preseason game last year.

Whatever doubt that existed that he was not “right” he corrected on Sunday. In his NFL debut, the man had a game-high 11 tackles with one sack, a tackle for loss and he was credited with hitting Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson twice. That’s a day.

“That’s a preview of what is to come,” Overshown said.

Late in the third quarter, the Browns went for it on a 4th-and-6. Watson thought he had a chance to run for it, but Overshown caught him and came up with his first sack.

“I knew Deshaun Watson would break the pocket as soon as the coverage was clamped on him. As soon as I saw that, I was like, ‘It’s my time,’” he said. “This is what I do: Chase down people, sideline to sideline.

“Knowing the game plan that if he does not see his first read, he’s going to try to make a move out of the pocket.”

That sounds like a man who prepared for the exam, and aced it. He had an entire year to study.

Considering the historically horrendous luck the Cowboys have had with injuries at linebacker over the years, no one can possibly get too far ahead of themselves that Overshown is a long term solution at this position. Every time this team thought they had “the guy” at linebacker, something happened.

For more than a decade the Cowboys have had talented linebackers only to watch them struggle to stay on the field because of injuries. Sean Lee, Bruce Carter, Jaylon Smith and most recently Leighton Vander Esch were all talented players who had their moments, but ultimately their respective careers became more about their injuries, and “If Only ....,’ rather than production.

Before the injury Overshown was on track to play and contribute last season. To at least be a “rotation” player with the idea that he would develop into a regular. They needed him last season.

Even with Vander Esch on the field last season, the linebacking unit was thin, and it was anorexic after he suffered what would be a career-ending injury on Oct. 8 at San Francisco. Then Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was so desperate he routinely had safeties cheat near the line of scrimmage, which opponents only routinely exploited.

If an opponent “went big” the Cowboys linebackers and safeties were too small/not good enough, which became a season-ending deal breaker.

After Vander Esch announced his retirement in the offseason, the Cowboys quietly counted on Overshown returning from his injury to produce. They also signed veteran Erick Kendricks.

They play different positions, and right now Overshown is in a substitute role. He will probably stay there, until it’s that time.

Everything the Cowboys did on Sunday must be tempered by the reality it’s just the first game. That it was Overshown’s first ever NFL game.

“It’s been a year of just getting right. Getting right,” he said. “It’s the name of my game; my instincts take over. Next thing you know I’m 100 miles per hour going to where I gotta go. That’s how I play.”

He had no choice but to wait a year to show it, and his team desperately needs it.